Device for lifting a drum while controlling tilting thereof



Dec. 3, 1963 M. GIERHART 3,112,835

DEVICE FOR LIFTING A DRUM WHILE CONTROLLING TILTING THEREOF Filed Feb 26, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG-l VENTOR. MELVIN GIERHART ATTORNEYS l .vl m mm FIG.

Dec. 3, 1963 GIERHART 3,112,335

DEVICE FOR LIFTING A DRUM WHILE CONTROLLING TIL-TING THEREOF Filed Feb, 26, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

MELVIN GIERHART ATTORNEYS DEVICE FOR LIFTING A DRUM WHILE CONTROLLING TILTING THEREOF Filed Feb. 26, 1962 M. GIERHART 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 3, 1963 GIERHART INVENTOR.

MELVIN BY I ATTORNEYS FIG FIG

a w W W nw FIG. 7

3,112,835 DEVICE FOR LIFTING A DRUM WHILE CONTROLLING TILTING THEREQF Melvin Gierhart, P.0. Box G, Port Jefierson, Ohio Filed Feb. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 175,484 Claims. (Cl. 214313) This invention relates to a device known as a drum tipper. Devices of this nature are operable for picking up drums of substantial size such as contain oils and chemicals or the like or for supporting the drums while tipping them so that the contents of the drum can be poured therefrom. The present invention is particularly concerned with a greatly improved arrangement of this nature.

Drum tippers are, of course, known in the art and may consist of arrangements of the nature illustrated in the Lacy Patent 2,399,360 or the Schreck Patent 2,756,883 or the Mueller Patent 2,827,184.

Each of these arrangements, however, is lacking in the provision of an inexpensive highly flexible drum tipper and are likewise lacking in a feature that is important in connection with devices of this nature, namely, the ability to approach and engage a drum that is relatively closely confined by other drums and to lift the drum and remove it from its position to a place where it is to be tipped.

With the foregoing general remarks in mind, it will be evident that a primary object of the present invention is the provision of a drum tipper which overcomes the drawbacks referred to above that have been encountered in connection with prior art drum tippers.

Another object of this invention is a provision of a drum tipper which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a drum tipper which engages the drum from one side so that, even when a drum is setting closely adjacent other drums, it can be engaged by the drum tipper and removed from its position.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a drum tipper by means of which the drum can be readily lifted and carried about.

The foregoing objects of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the general arrangement of a drum tipper according to my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the drum tipper partly broken away to show some of the operative parts thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a view like FIGURE 2 but which shows a drum lift and tilted into pouring position;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view, somewhat diagrammatic, showing the gripper means that directly engages the drum and supports it during lifting operations;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary somewhat diagrammatic plan view showing one of the shoes in the position which it occupies before it engages a drum;

FIGURE 6 is a view like FIGURE 5 which shows the gripper after it has engaged a drum and after the gripper is locked in its drum engaging position; and

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic representation of the hydraulic control circuit that controls the lifting and tilting of a drum engaged by the tipping device according to the present invention.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail and with particular reference to FIGURE 1, 2, and 3,

' the drum tipper comprises a frame part 10 that has side members 12 and one transverse member 14 at one end. At the other end the side members 12 are not interconnected and this provides a space for receiving a drum =16.

' United States Patent 0 The frame 10 is made rigid by the provision of diagonally extending members 18 that extend between and are rigid with the side members 12 and the end member 14.

Each side member 12 provides support for three wheels. Toward the transverse end member .14 is a caster wheel 20 and at the extreme other end of the side member 12 is another caster wheel 22. Intermediate caster wheels 20 and 22 and in the region of drum 16 engaged by the drum tipper are the non-caster wheels 24 which, advantageously, may be rubber covered. Wheels 26} and 22, of course, may also be rubber covered. The wheel arrangement described provides for great flexibility of movement of the frame because it can be turned substantially about the axis of the drum thereby permitting the device to be rotated quite easily.

The caster wheels 22 are preferably supported by springs 23 so the wheels of the frame can conform to irregularities in the floor.

Manipulation of the device can be accomplished by handle means 26 rigid with and upstanding from end member 14 of the frame.

The wheels 24 are preferably provided with levers 28 that will brake the wheel when drawn against the wheels. These levers are adapted for being drawn against the wheels by a linkage 30 attached to the levers and to a manually operated overcenter arm 32 pivoted in the frame and moveable upwardly and downwardly therein for locking and unlocking wheels 24.

Adjacent the transverse end member 14 and, preferably, fixedly secured thereto as by welding are support means 34 consisting of spaced plates on which the drum tipping frame is pivotally supported. The drum tipping frame generally designated at 36, is somewhat similar to frame 10 in that it comprises side members 38 and 40 which have their one ends pivotally connected with support means 34 as by pivots 42. The spaced side members 38 and 49 are interconnected and made substantially rigid with each other by the intersecting brace bars 44 extending between the said side members and welded thereto.

Side member 40 has a portion 46 extending downwardly at an angle beyond pivot means 42 and pivoted by pivot 48 to ram 50 of a hydraulic motor that also includes a cylinder 52 that is pivoted at 5d to frame 10. In order to support the thrust of hydraulic motor 52 adequately within frame It}, there is preferably provided a brace bar 56 which at one end is welded to the support means 34 that pivotally receives side member 4d of frame 36, while at its other end brace bar 56 carries the pivot support 54 of cylinder 52 and includes a downwardly projecting portion 58 welded to frame 10.

While the hydraulic motor is illustrated disposed completely to one side of frames lit and 36, it will be understood that the hydraulic motor could be located at any suitable place transversely of the frames so long as it was operatively connected between the two frames to cause frame 36 to tilt upwardly and downwardly on supporting frame 16*.

Returning now to frame 36, the side members 38 and do of this frame are spaced apart at their drum ends for receiving a drum therebetween. Extending upwardly from the drum end of each side member of frame 36 is an arm 6i?- pivoted to the pertain-ing side member by a pivot 62. Extending between the upper ends of arms 60 and fixedly secured thereto as by welding is a substantial ly semi-circular strap member 64. This strap member forms part of a cradle for supportingly engaging the drum 16.

At spaced points around strap member '64 are fixedly attached thereto the vertical bars 66 which at their upper and lower ends are fixedly attached to the arcuate strap members 68 which are somewhat shorter circumferentially than strap member 69 but which also form a part of the drum support cradle.

Returning to the vertical arms ea, there is associated with each of these arms, and immediately adjacent the said arm, or spaced somewhat forwardly therefrom but rigidly connected to the arms, the sleeve elements 7%.

These sleeve elements form pivotal supports for grippers or shoes 72 which are arcuate and which may be channel shaped in cross section and which extend in both directions from a pivot 74 by which the pertm'ning gripper or shoe is pivotally mounted on sleeve 7%.

The lower leg of the channel forming the gripper or shoe may be cut off rearwardly of pivot sleeve 70 so that the gripper or shoe can pivot on the pivot sleeve without any interference from arm 69 adjacent thereto.

As will be seen in FIGURES 4, 5, and 6, each shoe or gripper 72 has a notch '76 formed in the rear edge of the top leg thereof. This notch is adapted for receiving a locking plunger or bolt 78 slidable in a support frame 80 that may be welded to strap member 64 and within which frame there is a spring 82 biasing the plunger or bolt toward the gripper or shoe.

When the plungers or bolts are withdrawn from their respective notches, the grippers or shoes are free to pivot about their pivot pins 74 and thereby to open up toward the drum so that the drum tipper can be removed from a drum or it can be pushed up and into such position that the Shoes or grippers are disposed on opposite sides of the drum. When the device is pushed toward the drum the drum will engage the grippers or shoes and turn them from their FIGURE position to their FIG- URE 6 position and at which time the locking plungers or bolts 78 will be cammed into notches 76 and this will lock the shoes or grippers in engaging position with the drum so that the drum can be lifted and moved about by the device or tilted up to its pouring position.

As will be seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the grippers or shoes engage the barrel 16 immediately beneath the upper one of the annular ridges formed thereon so that the barrel or drum will not slip downwardly when it is lifted. The shoes or grippers could, of course, engage immediately beneath the ridge at the extreme upper end of the drum and one or the other of the straps 63 could engage the drum immediately above one of the protuberances or ridges so that even in extremely tilted positions as in FlGURE 3, for example, there would be absolutely no tendency for the drum to slip in its supporting cradle.

For withdrawing the locking plungers or bolts 78 from their locking position, there is connected thereto and extending between the locking plungers or bolts on the opposite sides of the cradle, a cable 86. There is further provided a notched bar 88 fixed to strap member 64 and projecting rearwardly therefrom in about the middle and over the notch 9b of which bar the cable can be hooked to hold the locking plungers or bolts in withdrawn position.

In operation, when the shoes or grippers are open, the cable is released from notch 96 and then, when the device is pushed upwardly around a drum the shoes or grippers are cammed by the drum to their FIGURE 6 position and the locking plungers or bolts engage the shoes or grippers and hold them in gripping position.

To release a drum, it is set down, and the cable 86 is hooked over notch 90 thus holding the locking plungers or bolts withdrawn and then the tipper device can readily be pulled away from the drum and at which time the grippers or shoes are cammed by the drum outwardly to their FIGURE 5 position.

For effecting tilting of the drum as the frame 36 is elevated on frame It I provide one or more drag links 9?. connected between the upper end of bar 66 and a point on support means 34, indicated at 94. The point of pivotal connection of the drag link to arm 6-3) is indicated at 96. This link is adjustable in length as by the threaded means at 98. As the cradle is elevated by upward pivoting movement of frame 36 the drag link causes the cradle to pivot about pivots 62 and to tilt into the pouring position in which it is illustrated in FIGURE 3. A suitable pourin spout of conventional nature is fixed to the opening in the top of the drum which permits material in the drum to pour therefrom.

FIGURE 7 shows a typical hydraulic circuit for operating the motor that consists of cylinder 52 and ram 50. In this figure it will be seen that there is a source of fluid at lltltl and means for pressurizing the fluid such as pump 1132. Pump m2 is connected to one port of valve 194 that is carried on frame 10. The source of fluid under pressure will usually be independent of the tipping device.

Valve 104 has a discharge port connected to conduit 166 leading back to source 16%.

A first conduit 108 leads to one side of ram 50 and a second conduit 110 leads to the other side thereof. A control lever 112 is pivoted at 114 to valve 104 and is mementarily held in a neutral position by spring means 116. Lever 112 controls valve members 118 and 120 which normally block ofi conduits 103 and 119. Movement of lever 112 in one direction or the other will pressurize one side of ram 50 while exhausting the other side thereof so that the hydraulic motor can be operated to cause raising and lowering movements of frame 36 that supports the drum supporting carriage.

When arm 112 is centered, the fluid in the hydraulic motor is entrapped therein so that the drum can be moved to any elevated or tilted position and be fixedly supported in that position. The arrangement of the present invention is highly effective for its purpose, is easy to use, is highly maneuverable, is safe under all conditions of operation, and is inexpensive to construct and maintain.

it will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions; and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a drum tipper; a first frame open at one end, support wheels on the first frame, a second frame supported on said first frame also open at said one end and pivoted to said first frame on a transverse axis at the other end, an arcuate cradle pivoted in the open end of said second frame adapted for engaging one side of an upright drum disposed in the open ends of said frames, gripper means in the cradle at opposite sides of a drum in the cradle moveable selectively into drum engaging and drum disengaging positions, means connected between the frames for pivoting the second frame on the first frame to lift a drum in the cradle, and means connected between the cradle and said first frame to cause the cradle to tilt in response to the said pivotal movement of the second frame to move the drum to pouring position, said cradle having arcuate upper and lower and intermediate elements engaging the drum, said intermediate element extending about half way around the drum, said gripper means comprising arcuate shoes pivoted on vertical axes to said intermediate element in the region of the ends thereof, and means for releasably latching said shoes in drum gripping position.

2. In a drum tipper; a first frame open at one end, support wheels on the first frame, a second frame supported on said first frame also open at said one end and pivoted to said first frame on a transverse axis at the other end, an arcuate cradle pivoted in the open end of said second frame adapted for engaging one side of an upright drum disposed in the open ends of said frames, gripper means in the cradle at opposite sides of a drum in the cradle moveable selectively into drum engaging and drum disengaging positions, means connected between the frames for pivoting the second frame 011 the first frame to lift a drum in the cradle, and means connected between the cradle and said first frame to cause the cradle to tilt s,112,ss

in response to the said pivotal movement of the second frame to move the drum to pouring position, said cradle having arcuate upper and lower and intermediate elements engaging the drum, said intermediate element extending about half way around the drum, said gripper means comprising arcuate shoes pivoted on vertical axes to said intermediate element in the region of the ends thereof, and means for releasably latching said shoes in drum gripping position, said shoes being positioned in a vertical direction so as to engage a drum immediately below an annular ridge of the drum.

3. In a drum tipper; a first frame open at one end and having support wheels thereon, a second frame supported on the first frame and also open at said one end and pivoted to said first frame on a transverse axis on the other end, a drum engaging cradle arcuate in a horizontal plane ivoted in the open end of said second frame and adapted for engaging the side of an upright drum disposed in the open ends of said frames, means connected between the frames for lifting the second frame about its pivotal connection with the first frame to lift a drum that is engaged by the cradle, means connected between the cradle and the first frame to cause the cradle to tilt in response to said pivotal movement of the second frame thereby to move the drum into pouring position, said cradle comprising shoes adapted for freely receiving a drum therebetween, the rear ends of the shoes being arranged when the shoes are positioned to receive a drum therebetween to be engaged by the drum to cam the shoes into engagement with opposite sides of the drum, and cooperating elements of a latch means carried by said cradle and said shoes, operable automatically to latch said shoes in their drum engaging position when they are so moved by the drum.

4. In a drum tipper; a first frame open at one end and having support wheels thereon, a second frame supported on the first frame and also open at said one end and pivoted to said first frame on a transverse axis on the other end, a drum engaging cradle arcuate in a horizontal plane pivoted in the open end of said second frame and adapted for engaging the side of an upright drum disposed in the open ends of said frames, means connected between the frames for lifting the second frame about its pivotal connection with the first frame to lift a drum that is engaged by the cradle, means connected between the cradle and the first frame to cause the cradle to tilt in response to saidpivotal movement of the second frame thereby to move the drum into pouring position, said cradle comprising shoes adapted for freely receiving a drum therebetween, the rear ends of the shoes being arranged when the shoes are positioned to receive a drum therebetween to be engaged by the drum to cam the shoes into engagement with opposite sides of the drum, and cooperating elements of a latch means carried by said cradle and said shoes operable automatically to latch said shoes in their drum engaging position when they are so moved by the drum, said latch means comprising spring urged plungers carried by said cradle, and means connected to said plungers operable for withdrawing them from latching position and for selectively holding them in their withdrawn position.

5. In a device for engaging and lifting a drum while controlling tilting movements; a first frame open at one end, support wheels on the first frame, a second frame supported on said first frame also open at said one end and pivoted to said first frame on a tranverse axis at the other end, an arcuate cradle pivoted in the open end of said second frame adapted for engaging one side of an upright drum disposed in the open ends of said frames, gripper means in the cradle at opposite sides of a drum in the cradle for engaging the sides of a drum beneath an annular ridge thereon, said gripper means being movable selectively into drum engaging and drum disengaging positions, means connected between the said frames for pivoting the said second frame on the said first frame to lift a drum in the cradle, and means connected between the cradle and said first frame to control the pivotal movement of the cradle on the second frame to thereby control the drum position as said second frame moves upwardly, said cradle having arcuate upper and lower and intermediate elements for engaging the back of the drum, said intermediate element extending about half way around the drum, said gripper means comprising arcuate shoes pivoted on vertical axes to said intermediate element in the region of the ends thereof, and means for releasably holding said shoes in drum gripping position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,388,987 Morrison Nov. 13, 1945 2,704,167 Framhein Mar. 15, 1955 2,832,630 Sterling Apr. 29, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 100,207 Australia Jan. 29, 1937 627,879 Canada Sept. 26, 1961 558,499 Great Britain Jan. 7, 19.44 

1. IN A DRUM TIPPER; A FIRST FRAME OPEN AT ONE END, SUPPORT WHEELS ON THE FIRST FRAME, A SECOND FRAME SUPPORTED ON SAID FIRST FRAME ALSO OPEN AT SAID ONE END AND PIVOTED TO SAID FIRST FRAME ON A TRANSVERSE AXIS AT THE OTHER END, AN ARCUATE CRADLE PIVOTED IN THE OPEN END OF SAID SECOND FRAME ADAPTED FOR ENGAGING ONE SIDE OF AN UPRIGHT DRUM DISPOSED IN THE OPEN ENDS OF SAID FRAMES, GRIPPER MEANS IN THE CRADLE AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF A DRUM IN THE CRADLE MOVEABLE SELECTIVELY INTO DRUM ENGAGING AND DRUM DISENGAGING POSITIONS, MEANS CONNECTED BETWEEN THE FRAMES FOR PIVOTING THE SECOND FRAME ON THE FIRST FRAME TO LIFT A DRUM IN 